Warning Issued After Fake Journalists Extort Businesses in Chiang Rai

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained under pressure on Friday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index extending its recent losing streak during the morning trading session as investor sentiment stayed weak. By the time trading was suspended for the routine Friday prayer break, the KSE-100 Index had fallen 1,264.14 points, or 0.74%, to 170,475.30. The market opened in negative territory and continued to fluctuate throughout the session. The index reached an intraday high of 171,208.55 before declining to a low of 169,512.88, reflecting persistent selling pressure across the market. Trading activity remained moderate, with more than 114 million shares changing hands during the morning session. The total value of traded shares stood at approximately Rs7.83 billion before the temporary suspension. Market participants said investors remained cautious as profit-taking continued in several heavyweight stocks. The absence of strong buying interest also contributed to the downward trend, keeping the benchmark index below its previous closing level. The market moved within a wide range of nearly 1,700 points during the session, highlighting continued volatility as investors assessed economic conditions and overall market sentiment. Analysts said investors are closely monitoring developments that could influence market direction, including corporate earnings, economic indicators and broader financial conditions. They added that confidence has remained subdued in recent sessions, resulting in increased selling activity. Trading is expected to resume after the Friday prayer break, with investors watching for signs of a recovery. Market experts believe the direction of the afternoon session will determine whether the benchmark index can recover some of its losses or end the week on another negative note.

ISLAMABAD: A quarterly quality assessment of bottled drinking water has found 29 out of 230 brands to be substandard and unsafe for consumption, raising concerns about the quality of commercially available drinking water in Pakistan. The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) conducts quarterly monitoring of bottled and mineral water brands available in the market on the directions of the government. For the latest assessment, samples of 230 bottled and mineral water brands were collected from 20 cities during the April-June 2026 quarter. The samples were analysed in laboratories according to the standards recommended by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). Laboratory testing found that several water brands were contaminated with harmful bacteria, making them unsafe for human consumption. A total of 29 brands failed to meet the required quality standards. The report found that nine brands had excessive levels of sodium. These included HR Water Healthy Life, A2Z Pure Bottled Drinking Water, Pure Drinking Water, Deep Blue Pure Drinking Water, Sup Nest Pure Drinking Water, Aab-e-Haram, Aqua Life Bottled Drinking Water, Drinklay and Alpha H2O Bottled Drinking Water. The assessment also found excessive total dissolved solids (TDS) in four brands: A2Z Pure Bottled Drinking Water, Imperial Pure Drinking Water, Aab-e-Haram and Alpha H2O Bottled Drinking Water. The recommended safe limit for TDS is 500 parts per million (ppm). According to the council, 22 brands were found to be contaminated with bacteria. These included My Sial Bottled Drinking Water, JERS Safe Life Bottled Drinking Water, Natural Pure Life, Natural Sup, Al Meer Bottled Drinking Water, Al-Saha Drinking Water, Al-Shifa Pure Life, Royal Fina Bottled Drinking Water, Aqua Nice Pure Life, Noor Aqua, Aqua Pure, Drink Well Pure Drinking Water, Imperial Pure Drinking Water, Zalmi, Deep Blue Pure Drinking Water, Aab-e-Haram, Vital Sup Bottled Drinking Water, Hunza Alter Water, Rehydrate8 Drink Pure Water, Moya Mineral Water, Tynant Aqua Bottled Drinking Water and Aqua Pura Smart. The presence of harmful microorganisms means that the affected brands may pose health risks if consumed without proper treatment. The findings have raised concerns about the monitoring and regulation of bottled water sold across the country. Regular testing is considered important to ensure that drinking water available to consumers meets safety and quality standards. Representatives of some of the companies named in the report, however, rejected the findings. They claimed that their water brands meet the required quality standards.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed confidence that Pakistan and the United States can increase bilateral trade in goods to $20 billion within the next five years. Dar said Pakistan’s trade in goods with the US stood at $9.4 billion during the last fiscal year. He described the US as Pakistan’s largest single-country export market. Addressing a US Congressional Delegation and American business representatives, Dar said stronger trade and investment ties could create new opportunities for companies in both countries. He said closer economic cooperation could also generate employment, encourage innovation and support long-term economic growth. Dar highlighted several areas where Pakistan and the US could expand commercial cooperation. These include information technology, artificial intelligence, energy, manufacturing, agriculture and critical minerals. He said Pakistan is already an important buyer of American cotton and soybeans. The country is also becoming a growing market for US hydrocarbons. At the same time, Pakistan’s increasing demand for advanced machinery, technology and capital goods could create opportunities for American manufacturers, he added. Dar said the presence of more than 80 US companies in Pakistan demonstrated growing confidence in the country’s market and economic potential. He welcomed the interest shown by American companies in Pakistan’s technology, energy, critical minerals and defence sectors. The foreign minister also pointed to the US Exim Bank’s $1.25 billion financing for the Reko Diq project as an indication of increasing US confidence in Pakistan’s investment prospects. Dar encouraged American businesses to establish partnerships with Pakistani companies and explore long-term investment opportunities. He said Pakistan had improved its infrastructure over the past decade through modern highways, ports and logistics networks. These developments, he added, had strengthened the country’s position as a potential trade and investment gateway. The government is also working to make the business environment more investor-friendly. Dar said regulatory procedures had been simplified to reduce bureaucratic delays and make licensing and approvals easier. He said Pakistan wanted to deepen cooperation with the US across both goods and services. Technology, AI, energy, manufacturing, critical minerals and agriculture were among the sectors identified for greater collaboration. Dar also highlighted the broader improvement in Pakistan-US relations. He said frequent high-level contacts under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump had helped strengthen bilateral engagement. He said his meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had also focused on strengthening relations and discussing regional developments. The foreign minister stressed that parliamentary engagement was equally important. He said regular interaction between lawmakers could improve mutual understanding and strengthen institutional ties. Dar said Pakistan’s engagement with the US Congress had increased significantly over the past year. The interaction has included lawmakers from both political parties and key congressional committees. The two countries also discussed regional security and stability. Dar said stronger Pakistan-US relations could contribute to peace and stability in the wider region. He also recalled Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between the US and Iran. Dar said Islamabad remained committed to dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful solutions to regional disputes. The foreign minister separately received a US congressional delegation comprising Representatives Ryan Zinke and Michael James Baumgartner. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, IT, energy and other areas. The US lawmakers acknowledged the contribution of the Pakistani community to American society and economy. They described the diaspora as an important link between the two countries.